| Spencer Bivens | |
| Team: | San Francisco Giants |
| Number: | 76 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 28 June 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 16 |
| Debutyear: | 2024 |
| Debutteam: | San Francisco Giants |
| Statyear: | August 21, 2024 |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 2–1 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 2.81 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 19 |
| Teams: |
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Spencer Bivens (born June 28, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Bivens played high school baseball at State College Area High School in his hometown of State College, Pennsylvania.[1] After graduating, Bivens enrolled in Louisburg College, pitching to a 3.14 ERA as a sophomore in 2014.[1] He transferred to Pennsylvania State University in 2015, his dream school from growing up.[1] [2] Before he could pitch for their baseball team, he failed a drug test, causing him to lose his spot on the team.[2] Two years later he transferred to Rogers State University.[2] [1] Bivens would pitch the next two seasons for the team, recording a 3.21 ERA in 27 appearances.[1] Following the conclusion of his senior season, he played for a time with the Lemont Ducks of the Centre County Baseball League, an amateur league near State College.[2]
Bivens was not selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, and signed with the of the Division Élite, a French independent league. In 75 innings pitched, he recorded a 2.51 ERA.[2]
On February 18, 2020, Bivens signed with the Kotlářka Praha of the Czech Baseball Extraliga. However, he was unable to play for the team after their season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Bivens later signed with the Steel City Slammin' Sammies of the newly–formed Washington League. In 6 games (3 starts), he posted a 3–2 record and 3.74 ERA with 19 strikeouts across innings pitched.[4]
On October 13, 2020, Bivens signed with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League.[5] In nine appearances for Washington, he struggled to a 7.24 ERA with 10 strikeouts across innings pitched. On July 7, 2021, Bivens was released by the Wild Things.[6]
On July 8, 2021, Bivens signed with the West Virginia Power of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In three contests, he posted a 10.50 ERA with seven strikeouts across six innings of work.[7]
On July 19, 2021, Bivens was traded to the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in exchange for Alexis Candelario.[8] In 14 starts for Gastonia, he compiled a 4–8 record and 7.26 ERA with 62 strikeouts across innings pitched. In 2022, Bivens made three scoreless appearances for the Honey Hunters, striking out nine across innings.[9]
On May 25, 2022, Bivens signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants organization.[10] He split the remainder of the season between the Single–A San Jose Giants and Triple–A Sacramento River Cats. In 27 appearances for the two affiliates, Bivens accumulated a 3.95 ERA with 48 strikeouts across innings.[11]
Bivens began the 2023 season with the High–A Eugene Emeralds, and was promoted to the Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels after six games. In 27 appearances for Richmond, he registered a 5–4 record and 3.69 ERA with 72 strikeouts across 78 innings pitched.[12]
Bivens was invited to major league spring training in 2024.[13] He began the year with Triple–A Sacramento, recording a 2.81 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 8 saves across 21 games.[14] Bivens was named the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the month for the month of May.[15]
On June 16, 2024, Bivens was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[16]